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Erasing specific files from laptop backups - is it possible?

  • September 10, 2026
  • 4 replies
  • 78 views
Explorer
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Hi there!

In the retention settings for laptop plans you can set how long deleted items are kept, but what if there is a specific file that needs to be removed from the backups completely, so the retention rule doesn't apply to it at all?

The use case could be a GDPR "right to be forgotten" request - the file is deleted from the laptop, but it also has to disappear from the backups.

I found references to Erase Data by Browsing, but the documentation I came across is old and describes the CommCell Console. Is this available for laptop clients/plans, and where would I find it in Command Center? Does it need a separate license?

Cheers!

Best answer by AbdulRahman AlSindiony

Hi ​@Pradeep  and ​@AbdulRahman AlSindiony - thank you for your contributions.
 

Indeed, it is possible to delete backed up items when browsing during a restore, as written by ​@AbdulRahman AlSindiony 

However, we are not sure whether the data is physically deleted from the disk/tape library, since the blocks could very often be part of a deduplicated store shared with other data etc.

Therefore, we would need an answer from a Commvault employee familiar with the compliance side of things (GDPR etc.):

If after deleting an item from Command Center, is the data physically removed from the storage, or does this only make it unrecoverable? And is any special licence or advanced feature needed to achieve actual physical removal?

Hi ​@drPhil ,

 

Deleting data from the CommadnCenter Browse window takes the same effect as deleting a specific job for example, 

If you delete a Deduped Job in Commvault, this doesn’t mean that all blocks are physically deleted (pruned), only if those blocks are not referenced by any other jobs, only then the blocks will be deleted from the storage.

However, deleting a specific file or job, makes sure it’s no longer recoverable, Data that has been deleted cannot be restored.

This is applicable only for Deduped media, if this doesn’t meet your organization requirements or if you need to make sure ALL blocks are physically deleted, you can leverage non-deduped policies, but this will come at cost of storage savings.

 

Thanks,

Abdu

4 replies

Vaulter
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  • PradeepVaulter
  • Vaulter
  • September 11, 2026

Hi ​@drPhil 

 

For laptop clients and plans managed through the Command Center, there is no direct equivalent to the "Erase Data by Browsing" (also known as "Delete Data by Browsing") feature that is available in the legacy CommCell Console for file system agents. 

 

    Vaulter

    Hi ​@drPhil ,

    Commvault meets GDPR regulations and assist Enterprises to meet them,

    GDPR Compliance | Commvault

    The delete option and "right to be forgotten" is fully supported in CommandCenter 

    I just confirmed on my 11.46 lab,

     

    Thanks,

    Abdu

    linkedin.com/in/alsindiony-abdo
      Explorer
      Forum|alt.badge.img+18
      • drPhilExplorer
      • Author
      • Explorer
      • September 11, 2026

      Hi ​@Pradeep  and ​@AbdulRahman AlSindiony - thank you for your contributions.
       

      Indeed, it is possible to delete backed up items when browsing during a restore, as written by ​@AbdulRahman AlSindiony 

      However, we are not sure whether the data is physically deleted from the disk/tape library, since the blocks could very often be part of a deduplicated store shared with other data etc.

      Therefore, we would need an answer from a Commvault employee familiar with the compliance side of things (GDPR etc.):

      If after deleting an item from Command Center, is the data physically removed from the storage, or does this only make it unrecoverable? And is any special licence or advanced feature needed to achieve actual physical removal?

      Vaulter

      Hi ​@Pradeep  and ​@AbdulRahman AlSindiony - thank you for your contributions.
       

      Indeed, it is possible to delete backed up items when browsing during a restore, as written by ​@AbdulRahman AlSindiony 

      However, we are not sure whether the data is physically deleted from the disk/tape library, since the blocks could very often be part of a deduplicated store shared with other data etc.

      Therefore, we would need an answer from a Commvault employee familiar with the compliance side of things (GDPR etc.):

      If after deleting an item from Command Center, is the data physically removed from the storage, or does this only make it unrecoverable? And is any special licence or advanced feature needed to achieve actual physical removal?

      Hi ​@drPhil ,

       

      Deleting data from the CommadnCenter Browse window takes the same effect as deleting a specific job for example, 

      If you delete a Deduped Job in Commvault, this doesn’t mean that all blocks are physically deleted (pruned), only if those blocks are not referenced by any other jobs, only then the blocks will be deleted from the storage.

      However, deleting a specific file or job, makes sure it’s no longer recoverable, Data that has been deleted cannot be restored.

      This is applicable only for Deduped media, if this doesn’t meet your organization requirements or if you need to make sure ALL blocks are physically deleted, you can leverage non-deduped policies, but this will come at cost of storage savings.

       

      Thanks,

      Abdu

      linkedin.com/in/alsindiony-abdo

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